The Theft of Sunlight

Intisar Khanani

Mar 2021 · Dauntless Path Book 2 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Sorcery of Thorns, this exhilarating, page-turning fantasy will pull readers into a lush and stunning world where nothing—and no one—can be trusted.

I did not choose this fate. But I will not walk away from it.

Children have been disappearing from across Menaiya for longer than Amraeya ni Ansarim can remember. When her friend’s sister is snatched, Rae knows she can’t look away any longer—even if that means seeking answers from the royal court, where her country upbringing and clubfoot will only invite ridicule.

Yet the court holds its share of surprises. There she discovers an ally in the foreign princess, who recruits her as an attendant. Armed with the princess’s support, Rae seeks answers in the dark city streets, finding unexpected help in a rough-around-the-edges street thief with secrets of his own. 

But treachery runs deep, and the more Rae uncovers, the more she endangers the kingdom itself.

Praise for Intisar Khanani’s Thorn:

“Set in a dark and dangerous world. Well-written and dramatically told, teens will find much to love in a novel in which the princess grows to become a force to be reckoned with.”  —School Library Journal (starred review)

“Khanani beautifully crafts Alyrra’s quiet but clear journey of self-definition." —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Ratings and reviews

I read Thorn, The Bone Knife, and Bramble last year and adored them, and have been waiting not-so-patiently for The Theft of Sunlight and it did not disappoint. I love Rae. She's everything I want in a MC - intelligent, caring, strong, determined, and protective. Bren is delightful. My favorite characters from Thorn are also highly featured. It's just a great group of characters all around. The story is complex and kept me hooked wanting to know what happened next. I also really enjoy Intisar's writing in general - it's part of what drew me in while reading Thorn and I'm so glad I discovered her books last year.

The Theft of Sunlight follows Rae as she works to uncover the truth about the snatchers, but there are many familiar faces from Thorn. I loved getting to know those characters better, and seeing them continue to grow. The story gets moving quickly, and tackles human trafficking in a respectful way with all the gravity it deserves. Favorite things: Rae as a protagonist. She is so practical, principled, and uncompromising. When she’s done wrong she doesn’t excuse her actions, or let others excuse them for her. That was really cool to see, and gives the books a different feeling than a lot of other YA. Seeing Alyrra and Kestrin working together and trusting each other more and more. The descriptions of the wedding celebrations! Rae loves her family so much. Orphan hero/absent parents is super common in YA, so it was fun to see Rae having adventures despite having a tightknit family – and in fact drawing strength from her family’s love. Having a protagonist with a disability that really affects her life and worldview, but in no way diminishes her dignity and autonomy. Bren! The cover is so beautiful!

About the author

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler.Born in Wisconsin, she has lived infive different states as well as in Jeddahon the coast of the Red Sea. She firstremembers seeing snow on a wintrystreet in Zurich, Switzerland, andvaguely recollects having breakfast withthe orangutans at the Singapore Zoowhen she was five. She currently residesin Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husbandand two young daughters.

Intisar is also the author of Thorn. To find out what she is working on next and connect with her online, visit www.booksbyintisar.com.